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Safety Officer Report!
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September 2007
AWARD-WINNING SAFETY TIP
"Spare Gas Siphon System"
by P/D/C Julian Rolandelli, AP, Rogers, Arkansas
Knowledgeable boaters are aware that they should plan to carry a 1/3 supply of reserve gasoline on every boat trip. That's fine, but small boats have a limited fuel capacity and all too often refueling facilities are unavailable. Only seven marinas service Beaver Lakers' four hundred miles of shoreline, and they all close at dusk or in the early evening. To
compound the problem, lake obstacles are uncharted so pulling into an unknown shore at night to refuel might be dangerous.
We found a method to safely refuel without beaching your boat. It works even for built-in tanks designed to be refueled from outside the boat. The key is a low cost siphon pump marketed as a tool for refueling camp lanterns. Since gasoline fumes are heavier than air and explosive, select an area on your boat that is well ventilated to store the spare gas. Follow the standard safety procedures during refueling and use your blower if your boat has one.
The materials needed can be purchased locally. You will need: 6 gallon safety approved gasoline can, manual polyethylene siphon pump with safety locking can adapter, clear ¾" vinyl tubing to reach from your can to your tank, short piece of vinyl tubing to extend the length of the pumps intake tube
Assemble the unit by attaching one piece of the vinyl tubing to the pumps exit tube. Cut another piece of vinyl tubing to extend the intake tube of the pump to the bottom of the gas can. Cut the end of this tubing at a 45 degree angle so that the end will not be sucked to the bottom of the can by the suction of the siphon.
Use the system by placing the gas can higher than the boats tank. Place intake tube into the gas can. Open vent on the gas can so that the gasoline will flow freely. Squeeze the pump bulb to start the siphon. Monitor the gas flow while the siphon is running. The
siphon can be broken at any time by opening the vent on the pump. Before removing the assembly from your tank, break the siphon to drain the gas; shake the filler tube to drain any gas that might remain in the tube; allow any gas to drain off the intake tube before
removing it from the gas can.
The spare gas and a safe system of refueling can increase your peace of mind.
This article is from the D31 website.
D
f
from the D31 website
Lt Bill Caldwell, P
Squadron Safety Officer
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